Apparatus for conditioning tobacco



June 26, 1945. R. D. TOUTON APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING TOBACCO Original Filed Aug. 2, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet l June 26, 1945. R. D. TOUTON 2,379,118

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING TOBACCO Original Filed Aug. 2, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIII/IIIIIII/IIIIl/II/IIII/IA 'II/IIII;

v Fin/ 2' 75x50]? June 26,1945. R. D. TOUTON 2,379,118

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING TOB ACCO Original Filed Aug. 2, 19:58 4 Sfieets-Sheet s Wyn/r01? IV/T/YESS: a WMM 7 June 26, 1945. R. D. TOUTON APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING TOBACCO Original Filed Aug. 2, 1938 4 Sheets- -Sheet 4 Patented June 26, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS CONDITIONING TOBACCO Rush D. Touton, (lynwyd, Pa., assignor to Wurton .Machine Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a comeration of Pennsylvania Original application'August 2, 1938, Serial No. 1 222,595. Divided and this application October 17, 1940-, Serial No. 361,528

This invention relates to apparatus for conditioning tobacco. o

-Mre particularly this invention relates'to certain instrumentalities adapted for the conditioning of tobacco by the removal or addition of moisture thereto for the adjustment of'itsthat moisture will be removed from or added to the tobacco, as the case may be, to bring-it'to a moisture content desired with respect to its further processing. And in connection with such treatment, it has been known to subject the tobacco while in the conditioned atmosphere to a certain manipulation, by means of jets of air or by mechanical agitation, to effect an opening of the hands and'separation 0fthe leaves in order to promote uniformity of the treatment throughout the hands.

.Various prior instrumentalities used have been variously disadvantageous, more particularly with respect to the loading and unloading of tobacco hands on or into apparatus. Further, prior apparatus has not been adapted for the treatment of hands of tobacco in the form of layers such as naturally separate when a bale of tobacco is taken apart. a $1 In connection with the concept and development of this invention, consideration has been given to the fact that the tobacco leaf comprises a butt or stem portion, a. Figure 4, which is relatively coarse and dense and is consequently slow to lose or absorb moisture, a, tip portion, 0 Figure 4, which is of a delicate character, which loses or absorbs moisture readily, and a median .portion, 1) Figure 4, which possesses the characteristics of both th tip and the butt portions to a degree, and the fact that stem portions are necessarily bound together in the form of hands when the leaves are treated. Consideration has also been given to the relative degree of flexibility of the several portions of the leaf and the effects of manipulation thereof under diiTerent degrees of moisture content and temperature. And further consideration has been given to the efiect of the layers of air lying adjacent to the several leaves of the hands as they absorb moisture or lose it by evaporation.

The apparatus in accordance with this invention broadly comprises conveyor means, of a novel type, for the ,support of hands of tobacco andwhich will be'characterized especially by the fact that it will be readily and easily charged with'tobacco. More particularlyjthe apparatus will comprise a certain arrangement of ducts and nozzles, for conditioned air, and of instrumentalities in association with the conveyor I appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus'for carrying out the method.

Having now indicatedin a general way-the nature and purpose-of this invention, I will proceed to a detailed'description thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, showing the essential elements cording to this invention. I

Figure 2 is a'plan view, partly in section, of the apparatus shownin Figure 1.

Figure 3' is a cross-sectional'view of the appa ratus shown in Figure 1. a 7

Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 aresectional views showing details of construction.

Figure 8 is a plan view showing a modification of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a side view of the structure shown of an apparatus ac- -in Figure 8.

Figue '10. is a sectional view on line 10-40,

Figure 8.

Figure 11' is a side view of a modified form ofapparatus embodying this invention.

Figure 12 is a plan view showing a detail of construction of the form of apparatus shown in Figur 11. j

Figure 13 is a fragmentary sectional view showing;.a detail of modified construction and operation.

Referring now to Figures 1-7 of the drawings, the reference characters 2, 2 indicatea pairof endless chains passing over spaced: pairs of sprockets 4, 4, mounted 'on shafts 5, 5, which are supported in any suitable manner from frames 6, 6.; The upper reaches'oi the chains 2, 2, are, tight While the lower reaches are slack and supportedby idlers;3, 3.v .Oneof theshafts 5 is driven through any "suitable connection to a primemjoyer, as an electric, motor, notjsh'own, sothat the chains travel 'in the direction of :the. arrow, Figure l.

1. The upper reaches of chains 1,1, which are slack, are supported by means of idlers II, II.

The links of the chains 2, 2 and 1,1 are out of line and their upper and lower reaches, respectively, lie together, the lower reaches of'chains 1, 1 being held down upon the upper reaches of A will be obvious, to maintain the conveyor loaded, it is only necessary to maintain a supply of tobacco hands, or layers of hands, arranged on the belts I5, I5, which will support them equally whether they be dry and stiif or moist and limp.

In the travel of the conveyor the hands of tobacco are subjected to conditioning treatment, as will be hereinafter described in detail, and hence on reaching the discharge end are flexible and depend more or less from their butt portions leaf portions of the hands approach the discharge end they are'lifted, and contact with the steep the chains 2, 2 by the weight of the rods 8, so

that the butts I2 of hands of tobacco may be held between them and so that the, chains 1, 1 will move with the driven chains2, 2, as shown indetail in Figures 5 and 6. Again, the chains 1, 1 i

about pulleys I6, I6, mounted onthe shafts 5, are

arranged adiacent to the chains 2, 2, respectively, andwith their upper reaches on a level therewith, as shown in Figures 2 and 4. The upper reaches of the belts I5, I5 run with the upper reaches of the chains 2, 2 and extend somewhat beyond the point of overlie or nip of the chains 1, ,1, with the chains 2,2.

Between the chains 2, 2 at the charging end where the chains run with the belts I5, I5 is a stop member .I1, presenting,as shown in Figures 2 and 4, surfaces spaced from and extending above the chains 2, 2- I At the discharge end of theapparatus indicated by B, Figures 1 and 2, a pair of conveyor belts I8, [8 pass over pulleys I9,- I9 on shaft 5 and, supported by idlers 20, 20, extend from beyond the sprockets 9 about which the chains 1, 1 pass, downwardly at a small angle to the chains 2, 2 forming a reach 2| and then at. a relatively large angle forming a further reach .22, as shown in Figure 1. The belts I8, I8: are adjacent to the chains 2, 2, as shown in Figure 1. i 7

It will now benoted that the chains 2, 2 and 1, 1 form a conveyor. for hands of tobacco, .the butt ends of which are clamped between the upper reaches of the chains 2, 2 and the lower reaches of the chains 1, 1, with the leaf portions of the hands extending laterally of the direction or travel of the chains, as will be clear from an inspection of Figure 3. The conveyor is charged'with hands of tobacco by laying the hands, or layers of hands, upon the conveyor belts I5 with the butts overlyingithe chains 2, 2, andabutting the surfaces of the stop I1, as shown in Figures 1 and 4. The belts carry the hands progressively to and into the nip of the chains 1, 1 with the chains 2, 2, the sprocket 9 and pulley I6 being positionedso that the chains are close together at the nip to the end that the butts of the hands are received and clamped between the chains and carried al'ong'to the discharge end of the machine where they are discharged. The chains are so arranged'at'the nip that the links of the chain 1, or the spuds I3, are positively pressed into'the buttsof the hands so that the butts are positively engaged between the chains. 5 T 1 reaches'22 of the belts I8, I 8, by blasts of air discharged laterally from a nozzle 23, positioned between the reaches 22 of the belts I8. The leaf portions in the continued travel of the conveyor are supported and lifted by the belts I8, as they travel with the conveyor through reaches 22 and into the reaches 2| until the butts of the hands are released with the separation of the chains 1,1 and 2, 2, and are supported wholly by the belts I8, I8 from which they are discharged or manually removed.

The hands of tobacco on the conveyor are ,passed through an atmosphere conditioned for adding moisture to or evaporating it from the tobacco and for adjusting its temperature and to such end the conveyor is enclosedin a chamber or :room in which a conditioned atmosphere is maintained, it being understood that the conveyor will be of a length and run at a rate such that the tobacco will be brought to desired condition. If desired, the charging belts I5, I5 and the discharging belts I8, I8 may extend without the chamber, as through openings in the end walls of a-room, as indicated by dotted lines 1/, 1/. Figure 2 in order that the conveyor may be charged from without the chamber and the conditioned tobacco discharged therefrom, thus avoiding subjecting the operators to the discomfort of the conditioning atmosphere.

In the conditioning of the tobacco there are associated in particular relationship with the conveyor, above described, various means for subjecting the several portionsof the hands to conditioned air and to manipulation in addition to the conditioned atmosphere in the chamber enclosing the conveyor. 1

Thus, between the chains 2, 2, ahead of the nip of the chains 1, 1 with the chains 2, 2, are positioned a pair of fixed spray nozzles 30, 30 facing oppositely and in line with the butts of hands of tobacco on the charging belts I5, IS. The nozzles 30,80 are connected to a valved water supply pipe 3| and operate, when dry tobacco is to be moistened, to wet the butts of the hands as they, fully exposed, pass the nozzles on their way toward the nip of the chains 1, 1 and 2, 2. Where theuse of water is undesirable, any highly conditioned atmosphere difiering from the atmosphere in general circulation and discharged from the air jets may be supplied through lpipe 3|. Where tobacco is-to be dried the nozzles 30 are not used or may be used to direct jets of heated. dry air into the butts.

Betweenthe chains 2, 2 and extending fora distance from the charging end of the apparatus is a duct 32, supplied with 'highly conditioned air from any suitable source, and this air will desirably carrymore moisture than that in general circulation and used for treating the leaf portions, and provided with lateral openngs 33 in line with the butts of hands of tobacco on the conveyor. As the butts of the hands pass the 2,379,118 openings 33, in the travel of the conveyor, jets of conditioned air from the openings enter the butts in a direction parallel to the extension of the stems and serve, if the tobacco is to be moistened, to drive into the butts and distribute the moisture applied thereto from the nozzles 30 and also to add moisture for insurance of the proper and uniform moistening of the butts. Where moisture is to be removed from the tobacco the duct 32 may be supplied with air at a difierent conditon from that obtaining in the chamber as a whole and from that supplied to the tobacco in jets from other ducts to be described. If desired, for the moistening of tobacco the duct 32 may be supplied with steam or with air carrying free moisture, and, if desired, water may be sprayed into the duct 32 through any suitable 'form of spray head 200 positioned within the duct.

At spaced intervals along the length of the conveyor and extending laterally beneathit are a number of ducts 35 adapted to be connected through risers 36 to a source of supply of conditioned air. The ducts 35 are provided with upwardly extending nozzles 37 positioned on opposite sides of the conveyor and so formed as to direct air upwardly into the path of travel of hands of tobacco on the conveyor to strike the median portion b of the leaf portions of the hands, as shown by the arrows LII, :c, Figure 3. The ducts 35 are provided with valves 38, which may be suitably driven rotary valves, adapted to cause the nozzles 31 to deliver jets of conditioned air in a series of puffs of more or less short intervals.

The jets of air issuing from the nozzles 31 are, desirably, forceful and the nozzles are so formed, directed and sized that the median portion 1) of the hands receives substantially the full force of the jets when, in the travel of the conveyor, the hands are in line with the nozzles. The jets perform two functions, first they supply moisture to or cause evaporation mainly from the median portions of the leaves and adjust the temperature thereof; and second the jets effect a manipula tion of the leaves by bending them upwardly with respect to the butts through the application of a force to their relatively tough median portions and without exerting other than indirect and gentle force upon their delicate tip portions. Such manipulation operates upon the median portion of the hands in which the leaves are most tightly adhered, separates the leaves and opens up the hands without damage, such as variously occurs where jets are directed so that all the air enters the tips of the leaves or the hands are agitated by agitation of a support or conveyor to which the butts are secured.

The valve 33 may be left open or driven, by a prime mover connected to pulley 2 H] on shaft 2| for the intermittent supply of air to the nozzles 31. When the valve 38 is operated the puffs of air issuing from the nozzles 31 operate to manipulate the leaves, as described, intermittently, the leaves being permitted to fall back under gravity between puffs.

At spaced intervals, and extending laterally above the conveyor between the ducts 35, are a series of ducts 40, connected to the risers 36 and provided with downwardly extending nozzles 4|. The nozzles 4| are similar in form and size to the nozzles 31 leading from the ducts 35 and direct conditioned air from above upon the median portions 1) of the hands in the same manner as do the nozzles 31. The ducts 4B are provided with valves 38' similar to the valves 38 in ducts 35, to provide intermittent jets or puffs of conditioned air from the nozzles 4|. If desired, the nozzles 4| and 31 may be placed in longitudinal alignment in such arrangement laterally that the nozzles 4| will direct air at the tips of the leaves and the nozzles 31 will direct air simultaneously at the median portions of the leaves to insure a thorough flexing and opening of the hands, as shown in Figure 13.

Referring now to Figures 8 and 9, means for flexing the hands, or layers of hands, of tobacco are associated with the conveyor and operate to bend the leaf portions of the hands with respect to the butts above and below the line of travel of the conveyor to preliminarily loosen the bond between the leaves for more readyaccess of conditioned air and separationof the leaves when subjected to the jets 31 and 4|.

The means for this purpose, an embodiment of which is shown in Figures 8 and 9, comprises a pair of endless belts 5|), 50, one pair being positioned at opposite sides of the conveyor formed by chains 1, 1 and 2, 2. The belts 5U, 50 are arranged to travel over pulleys 5|, 5|, mounted on shafts 53, 53, one of which for each belt is driven, in any suitable manner, for movement of the belts in unison at the same speed as that of the chains 1, and 2, 2. The pulleys 5|, 5| are positioned so that the adjacent reaches of the belts 50, 50, which travel in the same direction and at the same rate as the conveyor, are initially spaced apart so that they will not contact the hands of tobacco on the conveyor. Idler pulleys '52, 52 above and below the adjacent reaches of the belts 50,50 are arranged to cause the adjacent reaches of the belts to travel downwardly below the 1ine of travel of the conveyor and toward each other, then to travel upwardly together above the line of travel of the conveyor.

In operation layers of hands of tobacco 54 are placed on the charging belts l5 and move into the nipof chains 1, 1 and 2, 2, forming the conveyor, and are clamped between the chains as above described. In the travel of the conveyor the leaves of the hands pass between the adjacent reachesof the belts 50, 50, are engaged therebetween and, in the continued movement of the conveyor, are bent downwardly and then upwardly with respect to the line of travel of the conveyor and thus flexed. Finally, the leaves are released by the belts 50, 50 and continue on the conveyor for subjection to the action of the air from jets 3'! and 4|.

The belts 50, 50 flex the leaves while holding them and prepare them for the further flexing given by the jets of air, both the belts and the alternate upward and downward jets of air giving to the leaves a wave-like motion as they are carried along by the conveyor.

Referring again to Figures 8 and 9 and to Figure 10, modified means for initially moistening the butts of the hands are shown. In the several figures 60 indicates a casing having longitudinal slots 6| in its opposite sides. The casing is positioned between the charging belts l5 and ahead of the chains 1, 7 as they pass around the pulleysdown upon the-butts: and fllls -the'casing, when the=butts are to be moistened; as shown in Figure 10? A- secondconduit 65 extends into the upper part of the-casing 60andis-connected tea-suit"- able source of hot air and serves for the intro: duction of hot air into the casing and down upon the buttsand fills the casing where-the-hutts are to be dried.

Referring 'now'to Figures 11 and-12, inwhich-- a modified form of'the' apparatus according to this invention is shown, I'-indicates-a charging belt such as heretofore described and adapted forthe charging: of tobacco hands or layers of hands into the nip'of pairs oi endless chains I01 and I02; 'I'heupper chainslfll, similar to the chains 1', I, extend about sprockets I03, one-ofwhich is suitably driven, and their upper reaches are sup ported by idlers I04. The chains I02; which cooperate with the chains IIII for holding'the'butts of hands of tobacco as=heretofore=described, extend about sprockets I05 of large: diameter cppositely to the charging'belt I00 and are-sup ported adjacent the charging belt'by sprockets I 06 so that their upper reaches cooperate with the lower-reaches of chains I0I and 'their lower reaches similarly cooperate, for the holding of hands, with the upper reaches: of chains I01, whichin turn pass around sprockets I08 of large diameter located? oppositely to the: sprockets I055 The chains I01 aresupported opposite to the I sprockets I08 by sprockets I05 and their lower reaches cooperate, for'theholding ofthe butts-of hands of'tobacco with-chains II0, which are supportedby sprockets III. Drums ll2-of the same diameter as-thesprock'ets I05 and'I08 are mounted-on the shafts supporting-the" sprockets, which for rotation of" the sprockets'are driven: in any suitable manner.

' A series of belts I I3, arranged in parallel; pass over pulleys: I I4, positioned-sothat the belts will bear against the periphery of the drums H2 through nearly half of their circumference, as shown in Figure 11. Dhebelts II3 aredriven at the same speed as the drums H2 and sprockets I05' which may be readilyaccomplished by securing various ofthe-pulleys on the shafts carrying the sprockets- I03} I06", I09-and I H, all of which rotate at the samespeed;

Between the upperandlower reaches ofthe chains I02 and I01; nozzlesIIB} communicating with air ducts I I6; extend upwardly-anddownwardly for the direction of jetsof" air intothe path of'tobacco"carried by=the chains. The nozzles II5 between the upper'andlower-reachesof' the chains I02 are staggered=with reference to the nozzles between the'upperandlower reaches of the chains I012 The apparatus shown in--Figures--l1 and l2will, in general, operate asxdescribed' above inthat hands oftobacco, or layersof hands, laid onthe charging belt I00will be delivered and gripped between chains IOI and- I02 and will-be carried thereby over theupwardly-directednozzles H5; As the chains I 02- pass around=the sprockets I 05 and the hands or tobacco are released' by; the

chains- IOI, asthey'pass around-the sprocket I03, the leaf'portions of the hands will be engaged, by the belts I3 andtherebyheldto' the drum] I2; which will'carry them around and deliver the butt portions thereofinto-the'nip ofchain-s I02 with-chains- I0I. Thebutts willthenbegripped between chains I02 and IOI and'carriedbetWeen the upwardly and downwardly directed nozzles I-IS; until released by thepassage ofchains I01 around' the sprockets- I06,- when they will be carried around the: seconddrum: I I2 as chains- I01 conveyors will be superimposed withmeans for transferring tobacco hands aiter'discharge from oneconveyor to engagement with another conveyor, thus enabling desired length of travelto be-obt'ained in a space of restricted length;

It will now be observed that tobacco-hands on the conveyor, provided-by the chains- 2, 2 and 'l', 1, are subjected to i a conditioning treatment; whether for moistening or drying, with consideration for the relative capacities of the different portions of the leaf to absorb or'evaporate mois ture and, at the same time, the hands are subjected to-manipulation by means-of the force of jets of air applied to the median-portionof the leaves and which may be appliedintermittently and in opposite directions. Further, the hands of tobacco separately, or in a layer, in the conditioning. operation willbe heldby the conveyor with the butts horizontal sothat the leafportionswill be subjected'to the pull of gravity causing them, iftheybe moist or as they'become moist, todrop or hang. down with a-natural-arrangement.

Again, in the moistening of'tobacco the jets issuing fromthe nozzles 3lzand 41 will efficiently" loosen up the median portions-of: thehands as they absorb moisture from the jets andg when they have absorbed suflicient moisture to permit drooping of the leaves, the jets from the nozzles- 3.1wi11 enter the hands from the tips-of the leaves, as shown in dotted lines Figure 3, tobring the moisture content of. the tips up to that desired and insure uniformity in the moistening. ofthe hands as a whole.

More particularly, it will be noted that inthe moistening of-dry tobacco theseveral portionsof the leaves are treatedwith jets successivelywith respect to the necessity or capacity for-absorbing. moisture and their relative toughness or delicacy; Thus, the butts are first treated, then the median portion of: the leaves with application of force thereto and finally; when'the leavesare sufil- I ciently moist to droop, the tip portions are treated. Withsome tobacco the butt treatment willbe continued-throughout: all or a part'ofthe treatment of the leaf portions and final treatment may be given to the butts after completionrofthe treatment of the leaves.

From the apparatus standpoint, it willbe noted thata highly eflicient and, at the same time,.sim-. ple form of conveyor is provided together with. means'for charging andzdischarging which are at once simple and. efficient and promote, rapidity and accuracy in the charging. anddischarging of the conveyor. Further, means for treatin or the various portions of the tobacco leaves are provided in association with the conveyor insuch a manner that the various portions of the leaves are brought to a uniform desired condition.

It will be understood that the above detaileddescription of apparatus is given for purposes of illustration onlyand that it is not intended that thisinvention shall be limited thereby, it' beingcontemplated that various modifications in details of the apparatus may be made,- by thoseskilleddn the art; without departing from the scope of, the invention.

This application is a division of application .filed by me, Serial No. 222,595, filed August 2,

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus for conditioning tobacco, in combination, a conveyor, means for securing the butts of hands of tobacco to the conveyor at an angle to the vertical with the leaf portions of the hands extending bodily laterally of the conveyor,'

a pair of upwardly directed nozzles for the discharge of conditioned air at said leaf portions P sitioned in spaced relation in the direction of travel of the conveyor and laterally of and below of the hands extending bodily laterally of the conveyor, a pair of upwardly directed nozzles for the discharge of conditioned air at said leaf portions positioned in spaced relation in the direction of travel of the conveyor and laterally of and below the conveyor, a downwardly directed nozzle for the discharge of conditioned air positioned laterally of and above the conveyor out of line with said first mentioned pair of nozzles and a jet for the discharge of conditioned air laterally to the direction of travel of the conveyor and in line with the butt ends of hands of tobacco secured thereto.

3. In apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco, in combination, a pair of endless conveyor elements, pairs of supports about which the elements respectively pass, the said supports being so positioned that the lower reach of one of the conveyor elements will overlie and tend to ride upon the upper reach of the other, whereby the butt ends of hands of tobacco positioned between said reaches will be gripped between said reaches with the leaf portions of the hands extending laterally of said reaches and conveyed in the direction of movement thereof, means for driving one of said elements, a conveyor positioned laterally of said reaches for supporting and conveying hands of tobacco to the nip of the said upper and lower reaches of said conveyor element, whereby the butt portions of said hands will be positioned between said reaches, a conveyor extending at an angle to the direction of extension of said reaches adjacent to the point of separation of said reaches and means for positioning the leaf portions of hands of tobacco for reception by said last mentioned conveyor prior to the separation of said reaches and release of the butt portions of the hands.

4. In apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco, in combination, a pair of endless conveyor elements, pairs of supports about which the elements respectively pass, the said supports being so positioned that the lower reach of one of the conveyor elements will overlie and tend to ride upon the upper reach of the other, whereby the butt ends of hands of tobacco positioned between said reaches will be gripped between said reaches with the leaf portions of the hands extendin laterally of said reaches and conveyed and conveying hands of tobacco to the nip of the said upper and lower reaches of said conveyor elements, whereby the butt portions of said hands will be positioned between said reaches, a conveyor extending at an angle to the direction of extension of said reaches adjacent to the point of separation of said reaches and means comprising a nozzle for the discharge of a blast of air directed to divert the leaf portions of hands of tobacco for reception by said last mentioned conveyor prior to the separation of said reaches and release of the butt portions of the hands.

5. In apparatus for the conditioningof tobacco, in combination, a pair of endless conveyor elements, pairs of supports about which the elements respectively pass, the said supports being so positioned that the lower reach of one of the conveyor elements will overlie and tend to ride upon the upper reach of the other, whereby the butt ends of hands of tobacco positioned between said reaches will be gripped between said reaches with the leaf portions of the hands extending laterally of said reaches and conveyed in the direction of movement thereof, means for driving one of said elements, a plurality of upwardly directed nozzles for the discharge of conditioned air positioned laterally of and below said reaches and a plurality of downwardly directed nozzles for the discharge of conditioned air positioned laterally of andabove said reaches out of line with said first mentioned nozzles.

6. In apparatus for conditioning tobacco, in combination, a conveyor extending in substantially a horizontal plane, means for securing the butts of hands of tobacco to the conveyor with the leaf portions of thehands extending laterally of th conveyor, a second conveyor for the support of the leaf portions only of hands of tobacco arranged to deliver hands of tobacco to said first mentioned conveyor, a chamber arranged adjacent to said second conveyor and adapted to receive the butt portions only of hands of tobacco on said second conveyor and means for maintaining a conditioned atmosphere in said chamber for preconditioning the butt portions only of the hands. I

7. In apparatus for conditioning tobacco, in combination, a conveyor extending in substantially a horizontal plane, means for securing the butts in the direction of movement thereof, means for driving one of said elements, a conveyor positioned laterally of said reaches for supporting of hands of tobacco to the conveyor with the leaf portions of the hands free and extending laterally of the conveyor, 3, pair of cooperating members arranged laterally of said conveyor at an angle to the direction of travel thereof and adapted in the travel of said conveyor to receive the leaf portions of hands thereon and divert them out of their normal direction of extension for the production of a bending of the leaf portions with respect to the butt portions.

8. In apparatus for conditioning tobacco a series of conveyors extending in horizontal planes and arranged vertically with respect to one another, means for securing the butts of hands of tobacco to said conveyors at an angle to the vertical' with the leaf portions free and extending laterally of the conveyors and means for support of the leaf portions only of the hands for transferring hands of tobacco from one conveyor to another.

9. In apparatus for conditioning tobacco a series of conveyors extending in horizontal planes and arranged vertically with respect to one another, said conveyors comprising cooperating reaches of pairs of chains adapted to engage the butt portions only of hands of tobacco and means adapted to engage the leaf portions only of the hands on release of the butt portions by one conveyor and transfer the hands for enga ement of. the butt portions thereof by another conveyor.

10. A conveyor, means for securing the butts of hands of tobacco to the conveyor with the leaf portions free and extending laterally of the conveyor, a, second conveyor positioned adjacent the delivery end of said first mentioned conveyor and adapted to receive the leaf portions only of hands of tobacco, and an air nozzle directed with respect to said conveyors so that air discharged therefrom will operate toposition the leaf portions of hands of tobacco on said first mentioned conveyor for reception by said second conveyor. 11. In apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco, in combination, a pair of endless conveyor elements, pairs of supports about which the elements respectively pass, the said supports being so positioned that the lower reach of one of the conveyor elements will overlie and tend to ride upon the upper reach of the other, whereby the butt ends of hands of tobacco positioned between said reaches will be gripped between said reaches with the leaf portions of the hands extending laterally of'said reaches and conveyed in the direction of movement thereof, means for driving one of said elements, and a conveyor located in a, plane substantially parallel to the plane of travel of said reaches and extending at an angle to the direction of extension ofsaid reaches adjacent to the point of; separation of said reaches at the discharge. end of said conveyor and means for positioning the leaf portions of hands of tobacco for reception by-said last mentioned conveyor prior to the separation of said reaches and release of; the butt portions of the hands,

12. In apparatus for the conditioning of tobacco, in combination, a pair of, endless conveyor elements, pairs of supports about which the elements respectively pass, the said supports, being so positioned that the lower reach of one of the conveyor elements will overlie. and tend to ride upon the upper reach of the other, whereby the butt ends of hands of tobacco positioned between said reaches will be gripped between said reaches with the leaf portions of the hands extending late erally of said reaches and conveyed in the direction of movement thereof, means for driving one of said elements, a conveyor located in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of travel of said reaches and extending at an angle to the direction of extension of said reaches adjacent to the point of separation of said reaches at the discharge end of said conveyor and means comprising a nozzle for the discharge of a blast of air directedto divert the leaf portions ofhands of tobacco for reception by said last mentioned conveyor prior to the separation of said reaches and release of the butt portions of the hands.

13. In apparatus for conditioning tobacco, in combination, a conveyor, means for securing the butts of hands of tobacco to the onveyor with the butts extending at an angle to the vertical with the leaf portions in free extension from the conveyor, p l 1160 336 means for the discharge of a jet of fluid under pressure positioned laterally of and below the conveyor and so directed that a jet of fluid will strike a face of the leaf portion of the hands on the conveyor to move the leaf portion upwardly with respect to the butt and means for the. discharge of a fluid under pressure positioned laterally of and above the conveyor at a point longitudinally spaced from said first mentioned means for discharging a jet or fluid under pressure, said means-being so directed that a jet of fluid under pressure discharged therefrom will strike a face of the leaf portion of the hands on the conveyor to move the leaf portion downwardly with respect to the butt.

14. In apparatus for conditioning tobacco, in combination, a pair of endless conveyor elements, pairs of supports about which the elements respectively pass, the said supports bein so positioned and so spaced that the lower reach of one of the conveyor elements will overlie and tend to ride upon the upper reach of the other, the opposed conveyor elements being confined at a point adjacent their nip so that one of the conveyor elements will be positively and nonresiliently indented into the butt of a hand of tobacco extending at an angle to the vertical when presented to the nip of the opposed conveyor elements.

15 In apparatus'for conditioning tobacco, in combination, a pair of endless conveyor elements, pairs of supports about which the elements respectively pass, the said supports being so positioned and so spaced that the lower reach of one of the conveyor elements will overlie and tend to ride upon the upper reach of the other, the opposed conveyor elements being confined at a point adjacent their nip so that one of the conveyor elements will be positively and non-resiliently indented into the butt of a hand of tobacco extending at an angle to the vertical when presented to the nip of the opposed conveyor elements, and a conveyor adapted to support hands of tobacco and to present the butts of hands of tobacco to. the nip of said opposed conveyor elements.

16. In apparatus for conditioning tobacco, in combination, a pair of endless conveyor elements, pairs of supports about which the elements respectively pass, the said supports being so positioned and so spaced that the lower reach of one of the conveyor elements will overlie and tend to ride upon the upper reach of the other, the opposed conveyor elements being confined at a point adjacent their nip so that one of the conveyor elements will be positively and nonresiliently indented into the butt of a hand of tobacco extending at an angle to the vertical when presented to the nip of the opposed conveyor elements, the weight of the overlying conveyor element of said opposed conveyor elements being such as to effect a positive non-resilient gripping of thebutts of hands of tobacco between said opposed conveyor elements throughout the extension of said conveyor between said supports.

17. In apparatus for conditioning tobacco, in combination, a conveyor, means for securing the butts of hands of tobacco to the conveyor with the butts extending at an angle to the vertical with the leaf portions in free extension from the conveyor and means-positioned laterally of the conveyor for engaging and positively bending the leaf portions of the hands as a unit upwardly and downwardly with respect to the plane of extension of the butt portions.

18. In apparatus for conditioning tobacco, in combination, a conveyor, means for engaging the butts of hands of tobacco with the conveyor with the leaf portions of the hands in free extension from the conveyor and a second conveyor adjacent to and traveling with said first mentioned conveyor and arranged to support the leaf portions only of hands of tobacco until the butts thereof are engaged with said first mentioned conveyor and said means.

19. In apparatus for conditioning tobacco, in combination, a conveyor, means for engaging the butts of hands of tobacco with the conveyor with the leaf portions of the hands in free extension from the conveyor, said means being arranged to release the butts of hands of tobacco at a predetermined point in its travel and a second conveyor adjacent to and traveling with said first mentioned conveyor and arranged to support the leaf portions only of hands of tobacco on the release of the butts by said means.

20. In apparatus for conditioning tobacco, in combination, a conveyor, means for engaging the butts of hands of tobacco with the conveyor with the leaf portions of the hands in free extension from the conveyor, said means being arranged to release the butts of hands of tobacco at a predetermined point in its travel, a second conveyor adjacent to and traveling with said first mentioned conveyor and arranged to support the leaf portions only of hands of tobacco until the butts thereof are engaged with the first mentioned conveyor and said means and a third conveyor adjacent to and traveling with said first mentioned conveyor and arranged to support the leaf portions only of hands of tobacco on the release of the butts by said first mentioned conveyor and said means.

RUSH D. TOUTON. 

